US5006680A - Snap action switch - Google Patents
Snap action switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5006680A US5006680A US07/348,032 US34803289A US5006680A US 5006680 A US5006680 A US 5006680A US 34803289 A US34803289 A US 34803289A US 5006680 A US5006680 A US 5006680A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- post
- switch
- terminal
- tongue
- section
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H21/00—Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand
- H01H21/02—Details
- H01H21/18—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
- H01H21/22—Operating parts, e.g. handle
- H01H21/24—Operating parts, e.g. handle biased to return to normal position upon removal of operating force
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
- H01H11/0056—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches comprising a successive blank-stamping, insert-moulding and severing operation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
- H01H13/503—Stacked switches
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
- H01H3/32—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts
- H01H3/46—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle
- H01H2003/466—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle using a living hinge to connect the levers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
- Y10T29/49105—Switch making
Definitions
- the invention relates to switches, and more particularly to miniature precision snap action switches.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,837 to Yoshioka May 7, 1974, for Microswitch with Readily Removable Leaf Spring Actuating Means describes a push button switch including an actuator.
- One portion of a spring is formed into a hook which engages a presented edge on the corresponding wall of a recess. This edge is preferably sharp to provide a fulcrum for bodily rocking movement of the actuator.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,508 to Beck, Aug. 27, 1974, for Micro-lever Switch Operator describes a lever which includes a portion for engagement with the operating plunger and a mounting portion having a forked extension with pivot arms.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,916 to Anderson, Dec. 7, 1982, for Miniature Precision Snap Action Switch Having Operating Lever Providing Large Overtravel uses one end 14a of a coiled bias spring 14 to bear against a bracket. The other end 14b is held against the riveted end of a cam 16 to bias the lever arm 12 and cam 16 counterclockwise until the tip 16e stops against the upper surface of a strip 8c.
- a planar metallic body has a movable contact with a cut-out tongue and a complete surround.
- the movable contact is mounted on a vertical conductive post with the post inserted between the tongue end and the surround end adjacent the tongue end to bend the tongue into a spring.
- a resilient insulating body holds two terminals, one above the other end of the element and the other below the other end of the element.
- the body has a nose which may be pressed against the surround adjacent the tongue end. When a force overcomes the resilience of the body to bring the nose down against the surround tongue end, the other member end is snapped from one terminal to the other terminal, breaking an initial connection from the post to the one, and making a connection from the post to the other. When the force is released, the initial connection is re-established.
- the resilient body includes an incomplete loop, which may have a lower or base side, an upper or cover side, and a third side as complete loop sections, and another, incomplete side.
- the resilient body has the upper or cover side latched to the complete side to retain the loop configuration.
- the post faces along the incomplete side toward the nose, also on the incomplete side. The element makes contact between the post and between one of the contacts held by the body.
- the invention also includes an incipient form of the snap action switch which comprises a unitary integral body having a lower section and a side section, the side section being jointed to the lower section at a corner.
- the corner is bent to bring an end part of the side section parallel the base section to form the cover section, the side section and the cover section are latched to form the switch.
- the incipient snap action switch is made by processing forms in sequence between two parallel conductive strips, from which the contacts of the switch are developed.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 1a is a small schematic electrical diagram of the operation of this switch
- FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a top view of the movable contact
- FIG. 4 is a partial side view of another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a side view of an incipient switch form under construction useful in explaining how the switch is made.
- FIG. 6 is a side view of several of the switches of FIG. 5 under construction further useful in explaining how the switch is made.
- a snap action switch 20 comprises a unitary resilient insulating body or housing 21 having imbedded first, second and third terminals 23, 24, and 25, respectively.
- the body 21 is formed into a loop 27 incomplete at a gap 28, the resilience of the body 21 tending to open the loop 27 further at the gap 28.
- a metallic member 30 may comprise a movable contact 26 and has a cut-out tongue 31 which has an end 32 and a surround 33.
- the member 30 has one longitudinal axial end 34 adjacent the tongue end 32 and another, axial, action free terminal end 35 at the other longitudinal axial end of the member 30 along the longitudinal axis 36.
- the longitudinal end 34, adjacent the tongue end 32 engages a post 37 which is an exposed vertical extension up from the first terminal 23.
- the post 37 is inserted in the space between the end 32, of the tongue and the longitudinal axial end 34. So forcing the tongue 31 upon the post 37 causes the tongue 31 to bend into a spring, indicated also by the numeral 31.
- the post In order to definitely locate the tongue 31 on the post 37, the post is provided with a notch 38 on the outside of the post 37 with respect to the loop 27 which provides a fulcrum for the member 30, and a lower, inner notch 39 on the inside of the loop 27, so that the surround 33 lodges in the outer notch 38 to provide the fulcrum and the tongue end 32 lodges in the inner notch 39 to provide a force holding the spring 31 in bowed condition.
- the loop 27 comprises a lower or base section 40, an upper or cover section 41 and two side sections, one complete side section 42 and an incomplete side section 43.
- a nose contact 44 on the incomplete side section 43 extends from the upper section 41 toward the lower section 40 and toward the member end 34.
- the actuator or nose 44 may be constructed in two parts 45, 46, so that when it presses down against the member end 34 adjacent the tongue 31, it exerts force equally and symmetrically on each side of the axis 36 and avoids the post 37, as shown in FIG. 2.
- the metallic member 30 may include a cylindrical contact element 48 at the other, action end 35 of its longitudinal axis.
- the cylindrical element 48 has a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the member 30, which is essentially planar.
- any contact element may be used, preferably of enough mass to provide a good "throw” to make a good contact as the element responds to the "snap" action, and if possible without “bounce”.
- the second terminal 24 extends exposed at 49 from the body 21 lower section 40 below the action end 35, and the third terminal is exposed as a bar 50 cantilevered from the complete side section 42 inwardly of the loop 27 and toward the incomplete side 43 above the action end 35, of the member 30.
- a probe 51 from the upper part of the incomplete side section 43 latches with the bar 50 from the complete side section 42, the surfaces 53 and 54 affording the latching surfaces from bar 50 and probe 51 respectively.
- the three terminals 23, 24, and 25, are connected respectively to three aligned connections 57, 58 and 59 which exit vertically respectively from below the body 21.
- a plurality of the switches 20 may be closely stacked horizontally and closely supported physically by means of horizontal exposed connections 60 and 61 respectively to terminals 23 and 25, brought out at the lower part of the body 21. Further the exposed horizontal connections 60 and 61 may mate respectively with openings 62 and 63,(concealed behind 62 in FIG. 2) so that these terminals may be connected in parallel with the corresponding terminals of an adjacent switch, and at the same time afford physical support.
- the horizontal external connections 61 may be omitted and for example, the connections 60 may be retained as a ground connection, or as a power connection, or the other connection 61 may be retained as a ground connection omitting exposed connection 60.
- a reduced thickness annular corner 65 between the complete, vertical side section 42 and the upper or cover section 41 lends to the body 21, the resilience tending to swing the upper section 41 clockwise about the corner 65. This swing is restrained by the latch formed between the bar 50 and the probe 51 afforded by their respective latching surfaces 53 and 54 respectively.
- a camming surface 70 on the lower part of the bar 50, and camming surface 71 on the probe 51 when the upper section 41 is swung down about the annular corner 65, cams the bar 50 and probe 51 apart until the probe 51 clears the bar 50 and relaxes to latch at the surfaces 53 and 54 as shown in FIG. 1.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 The method by which the bodies are formed and latched will be more apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 5 and 6, in which a number of bodies 21 in a web 72 comprising an upper metallic conveyor strip 73, a lower metallic conveyor strip 74, and vertical conjoining metallic strips 75 which join the upper and lower parallel strips 73 and 74. Between each adjacent conjoining strip 75 is a resilient body 21. From the lower strip integrally extend connections 57, 58, and 59, respectively, which themselves are entered into the body to provide the terminals 23, 24, and 25. In short, the terminals are arranged and the bodies, preferably of a resin based material, are molded about the terminals 23, 24, and 25.
- the upper section 41 and the upper part of the incomplete section 43 in the incipient body are made in one vertical portion or upstanding side section joined by an annular, concave inward, corner 65 of decreased thickness.
- the members 30 may be appropriately placed on the posts 37.
- the bodies may then each be cut from the lower conveyor strip 74, bent or swung about the corner 65 until the camming surface 70 of each probe 51 cams the probe 51 over the camming surface 71 of the corresponding bar 50, and when released the latch is completed with the latching surfaces 53 and 54 joined.
- Registration apertures 76 on the upper strip 73 and apertures 77 on the lower strip 74 control the spacing of the conveyors as they are passed through automatic machinery for the forming of bodies 21, and the handling of the bodies after forming.
- the initial condition is adjusted accordingly.
- the outer notch 38 should be before the inner notch 80 wherein is lodged the tongue end 32.
- the end of the nose 44 should be applied outside of the post 37 and fulcrum 38. Otherwise the construction is substantially the same as for FIGS. 1-3.
- FIG. 4 is another form of the invention, although the form used may possibly be dictated by the desire to use a particular initial electrical condition, such as the one illustrated in the schematic of FIG. 1a.
- an incipient form 69 of the switch (see FIGS. 5 and 6) which may then be folded at the corner 65 to make either the switch of FIG. 1 or of FIG. 4, two parallel horizontal strips 73 and 74 are joined by strips 75.
- Accurately longitudinally spaced holes 76 and 77 in the respective upper and lower strips 73 and 74 respectively are used to step the strips to bring them to a molding station, where the mold is charged and incipient form 69 is molded between each adjacent pair of joining strips 75.
- the strips and molded forms may then be stepped to another station where the upper strip 73 is detached by cutting the strips 75, for example where they join the lower strip 74.
- the body may be stepped to another station where the exposed post 37 is notched as desired, depending on the form of the switch desired, that of FIG. 1 or FIG. 4.
- the post 37 may be pre-notched.
- the member 30 is attached to the post 37 and the spring 31 bent and fitted.
- the form 69 may be bent at the corner 65 so that the camming surfaces cam the sections 40 and 41 to latch the bar 50 and the probe 51.
- the remaining lower strip 74 may then be stepped to another station where the newly formed snap action switch may be separated from the lower strip 74 to leave the proper lengths of the connections 57, 58 and 59. This separation completes the construction of the switch.
- the dimensions of the body 21 left to right excluding the external connections was 0.275 inch, and top to bottom, excluding the external connections, was 0.250 inch, and the depth was only 0.090 inch.
- the stroke may be extremely short, such as less than 1/10th of an inch.
- the snap switches of the invention are readily constructed, and operate repetitively and reliably. The construction and method of construction are novel and readily afford large volume production.
Abstract
Description
Claims (31)
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/348,032 US5006680A (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-05-05 | Snap action switch |
EP19890308628 EP0395810A3 (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-08-24 | Snap action switch |
JP1284665A JPH02309524A (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-10-31 | Snap action swith |
US07/569,816 US5076426A (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1990-08-20 | Snap action switch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/348,032 US5006680A (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-05-05 | Snap action switch |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US07/569,816 Division US5076426A (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1990-08-20 | Snap action switch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US5006680A true US5006680A (en) | 1991-04-09 |
Family
ID=23366376
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US07/348,032 Expired - Lifetime US5006680A (en) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-05-05 | Snap action switch |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5006680A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0395810A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH02309524A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5055642A (en) * | 1989-06-20 | 1991-10-08 | Mitsuku Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Push button switch |
US6441332B1 (en) | 2001-02-15 | 2002-08-27 | Maytag Corporation | Switch assembly incorporating contact wedge |
US20070042647A1 (en) * | 2005-08-17 | 2007-02-22 | Inventec Corporation | Blade-type electronic device |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2681184B1 (en) * | 1991-09-05 | 1995-03-31 | Sextant Avionique | METHOD FOR PRODUCING, BY CUTTING FROM A TAPE, A CONTACTOR SWITCH BLADE AND A BLADE MADE ACCORDING TO THE PROCESS. |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3144529A (en) * | 1961-04-03 | 1964-08-11 | Maxson Electronics Corp | Snap switch |
US3513274A (en) * | 1966-11-23 | 1970-05-19 | Crouzet Sa | Electric switching device |
DE2459464A1 (en) * | 1973-12-17 | 1975-06-26 | Texas Instruments Inc | KEYBOARD WITH MOLDED PUSH KEYS |
US4044212A (en) * | 1972-09-26 | 1977-08-23 | Tetsuo Takano | Electric switches and process and apparatus for manufacture thereof |
US4070555A (en) * | 1975-11-28 | 1978-01-24 | The Alliance Manufacturing Company | Switching mechanism |
US4644115A (en) * | 1984-08-24 | 1987-02-17 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Compact snap action switch |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB844646A (en) * | 1957-08-30 | 1960-08-17 | Electro Snap Switch & Mfg Co | Electrical switch of the snap action type |
GB882850A (en) * | 1959-05-27 | 1961-11-22 | Controls Co Of America | Improvements in and relating to snap action electrical switches and a process for making the switches |
GB1274204A (en) * | 1968-09-30 | 1972-05-17 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Electrical switches |
US3548131A (en) * | 1969-01-30 | 1970-12-15 | Cutler Hammer Inc | Snap switch with unitary insulating enclosure |
GB1350118A (en) * | 1971-10-25 | 1974-04-18 | Amp Inc | Electric switches |
US3878347A (en) * | 1974-02-04 | 1975-04-15 | Otto Engineering | Electrical switch |
US3944766A (en) * | 1974-07-03 | 1976-03-16 | Essex International, Inc. | Seat belt buckle having pushbutton type switch with elastomeric conductor bridging contact |
-
1989
- 1989-05-05 US US07/348,032 patent/US5006680A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-08-24 EP EP19890308628 patent/EP0395810A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1989-10-31 JP JP1284665A patent/JPH02309524A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3144529A (en) * | 1961-04-03 | 1964-08-11 | Maxson Electronics Corp | Snap switch |
US3513274A (en) * | 1966-11-23 | 1970-05-19 | Crouzet Sa | Electric switching device |
US4044212A (en) * | 1972-09-26 | 1977-08-23 | Tetsuo Takano | Electric switches and process and apparatus for manufacture thereof |
DE2459464A1 (en) * | 1973-12-17 | 1975-06-26 | Texas Instruments Inc | KEYBOARD WITH MOLDED PUSH KEYS |
US4070555A (en) * | 1975-11-28 | 1978-01-24 | The Alliance Manufacturing Company | Switching mechanism |
US4644115A (en) * | 1984-08-24 | 1987-02-17 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Compact snap action switch |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5055642A (en) * | 1989-06-20 | 1991-10-08 | Mitsuku Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Push button switch |
US6441332B1 (en) | 2001-02-15 | 2002-08-27 | Maytag Corporation | Switch assembly incorporating contact wedge |
US20070042647A1 (en) * | 2005-08-17 | 2007-02-22 | Inventec Corporation | Blade-type electronic device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0395810A2 (en) | 1990-11-07 |
JPH02309524A (en) | 1990-12-25 |
EP0395810A3 (en) | 1991-02-06 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ALCO ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, INC., MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:THOMAS, JOSEPH;REEL/FRAME:005115/0217 Effective date: 19890516 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AUGAT, INC., A CORP. OF MA, MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ALCO ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005485/0407 Effective date: 19901019 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
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FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
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FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYER NUMBER DE-ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: RMPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC., NEVADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AUGAT INC.;REEL/FRAME:009342/0330 Effective date: 19980630 |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 12 |